Maternity skirt



Dec. 22, 1959' M. GOLDRING MATERNITY SKIRT Filed 001;. I5. 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

w w w a lb m M. GOLDRING MATERNITY SKIRT Dec. 22, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed 001'.- 3. 1957 FIG. 5

722 Z ZZ arzanne rm BY 4 M 7 dzzorneys Unite Patented Dec. 22, 1959 MATERNITY SKIRT Marianne Goldring, New York, N.Y., assignor to Sears, Roebuck and (30., Chicago, 11]., a corporation of New York Application Uctoher 3, 1957, Serial No. 688,006

3 Claims. (Cl. 2211) My invention pertains to a maternity skirt and has to do more particularly with a skirt of novel construc tion which is designed to provide adjustability in height as well as in width to accommodate changes in the figure of the wearer during the progress of pregnancy.

A particular object of my invention is to provide a garment of the type referred to which will accomplish the above mentioned objects without detracting from the appearance of slimness below the abdomen and without causing a rise of the skirt at the hemline, such as usually occurs in ordinary garments as a result of changes in the figure.

My principal objective is accomplished by providing in the front portion of the garment adjustability in both vertical and lateral directions. This adjustability is accomplished for a wide variety of variations in the girth of the figure, to keep pace with the natural changes therein. As a result it is possible for the wearer to maintain a relatively slim appearance below the abdomen and without causing a rise in the hemline.

My invention will best be understood from the appended drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment thereof, wherein Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a skirt embodying my invention as worn during an early stage of pregnancy;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the same;

Fig. 3 is a back elevational view of the same;

Fig. 4 is a front elevational view of the same skirt as worn during a later stage of pregnancy;

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view of the same as shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a rear perspective view of the skirt as shown in Figs. 1-5, inclusive;

Fig. 7 is a front perspective view of the skirt as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, and

Fig. 8 is an exploded plan view of the pattern for the various panels comprising the skirt.

Referring first to Fig. 8, my improved skirt is preferably cut in a plurality of vertical elongated panels, viz: a more or less rectangular front panel 0 having secured to the top side edges thereof a pair of vertically spaced loops l2. Secured to the sides of front panel a are side panels b, b which are substantially identical in contour, but reversed on a vertical axis. These panels are roughly rectangular except that the length thereof from top to bottom slopes upwardly from the rear edge 13 to the front edge 14. Thus, the top edge 15 of the side panels is higher toward the front and of substantially the same length as the front panel at the point where the side panels meet the front panel. It will also be seen that the vertical edge 14 of this panel is bias-cut in the upper portion thereof as indicated by the line 16 to provide a gore 17, which is available for gradual expansion as theneed arises.

A flexible tie member such as a tape or belt 20 is secured to the upper hem or marginal portion of side panels 12, b as at 18 for purposes which will hereinafter be described. Rear panels c, c are likewise roughly rectangular and identical in contour, being likewise reversed in position on a vertical axis. The side edge 22 of each back panel is of substantially of the same length as edge 13 of its adjacent side panel and the top marginal edge 24 of each back panel slopes downwardly to ward the rear center edge 27.

A V-shaped dart 30 is provided at the top of each of the rear panels 0, c between the side edges of said panels, said darts when taken in and stitched causing median edges 27 to slope toward the side and allow for shaping over the hips, as seen by dash line 19. Adjacent the forward portion of each dart and at the top edge of the panel is provided a loop 32.

At the bottom rear edge of each back panel 0, c is provided an elongated extension 35 whereby, when the panels are sewn together in the usual manner, a pleat 37 is formed (Fig. 6) to provide extra width at the bottom for walking.

The panels shown in Fig. 8, as described above, are stitched together along their side edges to provide the skirt shown in Figs. 1-7 inclusive. It will be noted that the bottom hemline is even all around, and remains so when worn, at all stages of pregnancy.

In the early stages of pregnancy the skirt will be worn in the manner shown in Figs. l3, inclusive. During this period, with the wearers abdomen relatively flat, the tie members 20 will be drawn forwardly and through the lower loops 12 and thence rearwardly through the loops 32. Each tie member may be secured as by a bow or the like at the appropriate rear loop 32. At this stage the gore 17 will be fully folded in as seen dotted in Fig. 1, creating a softly pleated waistline. When Worn in this manner, the excess material of the front panel extending between the lowermost of the loops 12 and the top margin extends neatly above the waist, as seen best in Figs. 1, 2 and 7.

During the latter stages of pregnancy, when the wearers torso is of increased girth, the tie members 20 will be drawn through the upper pair of loops 12, as seen in Figs. 4 and 5, thus allowing the additional material provided at the top of the front panel as well as the extended material of gores 17 to be draped gracefully over the growing abdomen and permitting the lower portions of the skirt to assume the same positions as when the figure was normal, with an even hemline. During this period the rear loops 32 need not be used and the ties 20 may be secured to the loops 12.

Thus, it will be seen that my improved maternity skirt provides a neat and tailored appearance to the pregnant figure which is attractive and flattering. The

exible tie members 20 may be secured in an infinite number of positions and thus the garment may be adjusted to accommodate itself attractively and comfortably to the figure at all stages of pregnancy.

Various changes and modifications coming within the spirit of my invention may suggest themselves to those skilled in the art and hence I do not wish to be limited to the specific form shown or uses mentioned, except to the extent indicated in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A maternity skirt comprising front, side and rear portions and having a substantially even bottom hemline and a top marginal portion adjacent the waistline, said marginal portion being higher in the front. than in the back and side portions, said skirt having a pair of spaced extensible bores disposed in the top portion thereof and provided with a fold line at each lateral side of said front portion, elongated flexible time means attached adjacent the top marginal portion of the skirt remotely from the front and provided with a pair of ree ends extending toward the front portion thereof, a plurality of vertically spaced tie engaging members disposed laterally of the front top marginal portion at said fold lines, said members being adapted to engage and retain said tie means at a plurality of points on the latter, whereby said tie means may engage a lower one of said tie engaging members and said gores be folded in in the early stages of pregnancy to accommodate the skirt to the relatively normal figure, the front portion of said skirt being disposed entirely outside the skirt when said gores are folded in, and the ties being engageable with an upper one of said members and said gores being more or less extendable during the latter stages of pregnancy, to accommodate the skirt to the increasing girth of the figure,

2. A garment as defined in claim 1 wherein the tie engaging members consist of loops through which the ties extend.

3. A garment as defined in claim 1 formed from front, side and rear panels which are vertically elongated and more or less rectangular in shape and are secured together along their side edges, said gores being provided by means of substantially triangular extensions disposed between the front and side panels, the vertical length of said panels varying between a maximum in the front panel and a minimum in the rear, and said panels being so secured along their vertical edges as to provide an even hemline at the bottom thereof and a graduai rise toward the front panel.

, References Cit-ed in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 929,106 Padernacht July 27, 1909 966,747 Holdgate Aug. 9, 1910 1,208,133 Gaines Dec. 12, 1916 2,510,665 Sonnenberg June 6, 1950 2,661,477 Gilbertson Dec. 8, 1953 

